Dead Ad Society Announces Winners of Inaugural Awards

Dead Ad Society, an awards show dedicated to resurrecting bold, unproduced ideas, has announced the winners of its inaugural show. On November 14th, hosted by comedian Joyelle Nicole Johnson, industry creatives gathered to honour concepts that, despite their brilliance, were previously left unrealised. The winners of the first Dead Ad Society Awards are: 

Gold: 'Dig' 

Entered by: William Spencer 

Credits: 

• Copywriter: William Spencer 
• Art director: Mitch Ratchik 
• Creative directors: Lisa Topol and Samira Ansari 

Silver: 'Horse-Sized Duck' 

Entered by: Dana Buckhorn and Tanner Thompson 

Credits: 

• Creative team: Dana Buckhorn and Tanner Thompson 

Bronze: 'Existential Crisis' 

Entered by: Justin Lee 

Credits: 

• Creative director/copywriter: Justin Lee 
• Art director: Joao Unzer 
• Executive creative directors: Pete Johnson and George Decker 

Judging Panel: 

The entries were evaluated by a distinguished panel of industry leaders: 

• Mike Byrne: Founding partner and global creative chief at Anomaly, recognised for leading the agency to multiple Agency of the Year titles and numerous industry accolades. 
• Juliana Cobb: Creative leader at 72andSunny New York, with a portfolio including award-winning work for brands like Starbucks, GE, and AT&T. 
• Amir Farhang: Senior vice president and creative lead at The SpringHill Entertainment's brand consultancy, Robot, with a background in directing and creative leadership at agencies such as Wieden+Kennedy and BBH. 
• Elena Knox: Executive creative director at BBDO NY, with experience developing global campaigns for brands like Google and Amazon Music.
• Sean McBride: Chief creative officer at Arnold, known for his leadership on brands including Ocean Spray and Progressive Insurance. 
• Tara Lawall: Chief creative officer at Rethink New York, writer, and two-time published author, with work recognised at major industry awards including Cannes Lions and The One Show. 
• Ryan Paulson: Chief creative officer at Dentsu Creative NY, with a history of leading creative for brands like Samsung Global and Verizon. 
• Sam Shepherd: Chief creative officer at Uncommon New York, recognised as the #1 executive creative director in the world by D&AD and The One Show. 
• Dave Laden: Emmy award-winning director at Hungry Man, with a portfolio including award-winning ads for brands like Planet Fitness and Taco Bell. 
• Will Dempster: Head of production and partner at Mischief @ No Fixed Address, behind some of the industry's most disruptive and effective work. 

The first-place concept, 'Dig', will be fully funded, produced, and directed by the renowned production company Hungry Man. This production is supported by industry sponsors including SAG-AFTRA, The Mill, Work Editorial, Sonic Union, and Synapse Virtual Production, ensuring top-tier talent and production quality.